Knight wrestlers win 5 duals

Thor Holstad takes on Steffen Paige of Rogers in a 9-0 win. This was his first match after coming back from injury at the Clash tournament. (Photos by Bill Halldin)

Ryan Rostamo gets in position for an eventual tech fall win over Joe Rudel of Forest Lake.

The St. Michael-Albertville wrestling team kept right on rolling as they won 5 dual meets this past week, improving their dual meet win-loss record to 20-1. On Thursday, Jan. 24, the Knights defeated Rogers 60-6 and Blaine 58-15 in a triangular hosted by STMA. The team traveled to Forest Lake Saturday, Jan. 26, and captured the Forest Lake Dual Tourney title winning 3 duals in the process. STMA defeated LeSuer/Henderson 60-3, then pounded Forest Lake 51-3, before beating class “AA” powerhouse, Foley, in the finals, by a score of 44-12.

In other STMA Wrestling action, the STMA 9th grade team won the section individual team title Saturday Jan. 26, at Elk River qualifying 9 individuals for the Minnesota State 9th Grade League individual tourney, to be Saturday Feb. 2, at Champlin Park High School. Qualifying for the State 9th grade tourney included: Zach Schoen (106 pounds), Cody Schoen (126), Donnie Leuer (132), Lucas Jeske (138), Garrett Ailts (145), Jake Ross (152), Evan Ronson (160), Evan Foster (170), and Jovon James (189). STMA 9th grade coach Tony Mallinger commented, “the kids really wrestled well. They have improved so much since the beginning of the year, due to their hard work in the practice room”.

The #1 rated Knights will take on the #3 rated Prior Lake team Saturday Feb. 2, at STMA High School, in a dual meet. The junior varsity starts at 4 p.m. with varsity to follow.